Overview
- Emirates launched Crypto.com Pay on July 28, 2026, making the option live on emirates.com and the Emirates App for eligible UAE residents booking fares that are priced and settled in UAE dirhams.
- On mobile the checkout redirects users to the Crypto.com app and on desktop it shows a QR code to scan, with payment approval in the Crypto.com app triggering instant issue of the booking confirmation and e‑ticket.
- The rollout is enabled by Crypto.com’s Dubai entity, which holds a Stored Value Facilities licence from the Central Bank of the UAE and converts customers’ cryptocurrencies into AED so Emirates receives fiat and holds no digital assets.
- The feature is tightly limited: users must have a KYC‑verified Crypto.com account, residency in the UAE, and book dirham‑settled fares, and Emirates has not published a definitive list of accepted cryptocurrencies or full refund mechanics.
- The move follows a July 2025 memorandum of understanding and builds on earlier UAE crypto payment experiments such as Air Arabia’s AE Coin, with wider adoption likely to depend on additional licences and how many travellers choose to spend crypto on tickets.